Recruiting Roundup: The latest on several of IU’s top class of 2024 targets
Indiana is still in pursuit of its first commitment in the class of 2024, but the Hoosiers are in the mix with several top prospects.
Our recruiting board was updated Monday and highlights 17 nationally ranked prospects still on the board as potential commits.
Here’s the latest on several prospects Indiana is recruiting in the 2024 class:
Flory Bidunga
Bidunga is no stranger to IU fans as the top prospect in the state of Indiana. The Kokomo and Indiana Elite big man is the No. 4 player nationally in the 247Composite and has taken several unofficial visits to Bloomington.
The finish line in Bidunga’s recruitment appears to be in sight. He told Deshawn London of 247Sports that Michigan, Kansas, Indiana, Auburn, Cincinnati and Duke are recruiting him hard and that he’s “coming towards the end” of his recruitment.
Tyler Betsey
The St. Thomas More (Conn.) forward took an official visit to Indiana in June and the Hoosier staff watched him at the Peach Jam during the first July evaluation period. According to a report by Adam Zagoria, Betsey is planning to make his college decision in either mid or late October.
The schools listed for Betsey in Zagoria’s reporting included Duke, UConn, Alabama, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, Creighton and Indiana.
VJ Edgecombe
The Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) wing has vaulted up to five-star status in the 247Composite rankings. He has yet to take any visits, but recently picked up a scholarship offer from Duke.
In a recent interview with Jamie Shaw over at On3, Edgecombe listed Duke, UConn, Providence, Mississippi State and Michigan as the schools he’s hearing from the most right now. Edgecombe also added that his recruitment is “still open,” leaving open the possibility that more schools could enter the mix.
Edgecome also told Rivals.com recently that he remains “wide open” in his recruitment.
Dylan Harper
The No. 1 player in the 2024 class according to the 247Composite, Harper is the younger brother of former Rutgers guard Ron Harper Jr. and the son of former NBA guard Ron Harper. Indiana is among the final five schools for Harper along with Rutgers, Kansas, Auburn and Duke. The Hoosiers hosted Harper for an official visit last fall.
According to Zagoria, Harper’s timeline for a decision “could last for several more months.” In addition, the Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) and NY Rens guard told Zagoria that Rutgers, Auburn and Kansas are three schools he’d like to visit this summer.
Asa Newell
Newell is another prospect that Indiana has recruited for a significant amount of time and has already hosted for an official visit as a junior. The Montverde Academy and 1Family forward spoke highly of the program in a recent interview with Brandon Jenkins of 247Sports.
“They have been showing a lot of love,” Newell told 247Sports. “Mike Woodson was in the NBA and I love their attention to detail with Jalen Hood-Schifino. It is really a basketball school with a lot of culture. So being in that environment is going to push me to be the best.”
Georgia has been the presumed favorite for Newell for quite some time. Newell also told Jenkins that he could take visits to Alabama, Gonzaga and Texas.
Derik Queen
Queen also hails from the loaded Montverde Academy program and is another five-star prospect Indiana has recruited diligently. According to Eric Bossi of 247Sports, Indiana and Maryland have “emerged ahead of the pack” in the race to land Queen.
With Indiana in an uphill battle to land Bidunga, Queen recently vaulted up our 2024 recruiting board and is currently Indiana’s top big man target in the class.
Jaeden Mustaf
The latest development with Mustaf doesn’t involve his recruitment. The Boo Williams guard recently announced that he’s moving to Overtime Elite for his final year of high school. Mustaf, who took an official visit to Indiana in June, will maintain his college eligibility.
The 6-foot-4 guard currently has a list of schools that includes Florida State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Maryland, Miami (FL), North Carolina State and Virginia Tech.
Patrick Ngongba
Another post prospect in the 2024 class, Ngongba has been one of the biggest stock risers in the country since the spring. In the most recent 247Composite rankings, he’s the No. 26 prospect nationally.
The 6-foot-10 center, who plays at Paul VI Catholic (Va.) and for Team Takeover, is racking up offers. In the last 24 hours, both Kentucky and Texas have extended offers and he also received an offer from Kansas earlier this month.
Kansas State, however, has clearly put in the most time recruiting Ngongba thus far and their presence at one of his games at the Peach Jam inspired the following tweet from Andrew Slater:
The Kansas State staff was there four deep. Good luck.
No further comment. https://t.co/Yp2EU3sTYo— ?????? ?????? (@Andrew__Slater) July 9, 2023
Filed to: Asa Newell, Derik Queen, Dylan Harper, Flory Bidunga, Jaeden Mustaf, Patrick Ngongba, Tyler Betsey, VJ Edgecombe